Range of healthcare services help Alaskans stay safe and independent at home.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Healthcare

Home is where we feel safe, where many of us gather strength, surrounded by those we love. So it's no surprise that when someone has a medical issue--whether it's recovering from an operation, dealing with a long-term disability, or even receiving hospice care--that the person would far rather be cared for in his or her home than in a hospital or nursing care facility.

"I don't think that there is anywhere that a sick person would rather be than at home--if you're not feeling well, where do you want to be?" asks Deb Seidl, RN, director of Providence In-Home Services. "If your mom isn't feeling well, where do you want her to be? Absolutely, people want to be taken care of in their home environment."

Luckily for many Alaskans, receiving intermittent and long-term home healthcare is an option. And as Baby Boomers continue to age, the demand for these services will continue to grow.

Meeting the Needs of a Diverse Demographic

When it comes to providing home healthcare, there are as many different types of patients as there are medical conditions. Frail elders may have mobility issues; middle-aged adults may need help after hip or joint replacement surgery. Young children, born with severe disabilities, may require round-the-clock care.

"We offer an array of long-term care services that allow individuals to remain in their homes as long as possible," explains Duane Mayes, director of Senior and Disabilities Services, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. "These range from basic grant programs that provide funds to organizations such as senior centers to send someone into people's homes to conduct a safety check, provide case management, and perhaps provide transportation to medical appointments to skilled nursing care for patients who require 24/7 nursing home-level care. Our PCA [Personal Care Assistance] program falls in the middle of that continuum of care."

At the less severe end of this continuum of care are grant programs, which provide funds to nonprofit organizational partners across Alaska that offer community-based supportive services to families and individuals experiencing developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, and frail or disabled seniors who need assistance at home. Funding for these programs comes from the US Administration on Aging, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and state general funds.

The next level of care is PCA, which provides support for an individual's activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as instrumental activities of daily living like shopping, laundry, and light housework. PCA is provided statewide in Alaska through private agencies.

"At a nursing facility level of care, there are four different home and community-based waivers that a person can receive, depending on their needs," explains Lisa McGuire, chief of programs, Senior and Disability Services. "These include Adults with Physical and Developmental Disabilities; Alaskans Living Independently; Children with Complex Medical Conditions; and Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities."

Providing Care in the Community

There are a number of organizations that provide healthcare to those at home, both in a medical and non-medical...